Discussions By Condition: I cannot get a diagnosis.

Pain in Iliac Crest - can't figure it out.

I have an intermitent, dull pain in not my hip joint, but on what feels like the Iliac Crest (round, top of hip--the one that used to stick out when I was "thinner"). Only on my right side. Pain has been around for about 2-3 years, maybe longer. It comes on, may last for a few days to a few weeks, and then nothing.

I have a lot of pain in general, especially from kidney stones, so I pretty much ignore it. If other pain is bad, then I'll take some pain reliever, but I can feel this pain through a pain killer, be it ibuprofen, vycoden or percocet.

I don't understand why nothing can "reach" the pain. It is not the kind of pain that you would double over with, but it is at times very uncomfortable.

All I have found is that it is related to excercise which I do not do. It is also not tender upon palpation. It is also NOT on both sides, just the right, so I do not think it fits in with Iliact Crest syndrome/back pain either.

I used to have a similar pain in my right hip joint that I no longer have. This Iliac Crest pain seems to have taken over that one, if that makes sense. I DO have a herniated L4, L5, but this started before I herniated the discs (I remember the exact moment I bent over and the discs ripped).

I do have slight scoliosis. Most of the time any "severe" pain I have had is on the right side, be it from kidney stones, etc. I have had my appendix removed. I also have a cyst that has been noted for many years on my Right ovary that has not changed in size.

Of interesting note, I also have 2 Ureters on my Right side discovered during a laser lithotripsy surgery for kidney stones 4 years ago.

I do have lots of other symptoms, but never considered this as part of the "group of symptoms". It is a rather obscure area for pain, I think.

The pain has not changed in frequency, strength or duration since it began. I have not noticed a pattern, either, but that does not mean that there is not a pattern!

26 Replies:

im not sure if this can help you but i was having problems and went to see a physical therapist that helped me tremendously. she said i had an ANTERIORLY ROTATED PELVIS. she says it is very common. i had to be 10x better the first time i left there. i never slept so well either. i was in pain also and asked her what i could try giving that motrin , darvocets , tylenol were not working and she basically told me that those are not goin to work on this type of injury. hope this is your answer and you can get back on your feet soon!!

I also have two ureters on one side. At the hospital where I work they are always doing xray exams on kids for this reason, because sometimes the ureters can cause a back-up, (reflux), become twisted, or just plain get in the way. They order renal ultrasounds and VCUG's (voiding cysto-urethrograms). Maybe there is a kink in one at the level of the crest. Since the other one probably works o.k., you wouldn't have too many symptoms. Maybe an "anteriorly rotated pelvis" would aggravate the ureters. They do float over the crest.

Hi, I know this is a bit after your post, but if you are still experiencing this pain and it is not diagnoised, you might also consider Fibromyalgia. Fibro tends to be widespread pain, but I can promise you as a suffer since the age of 14, NOTHING in my body hurts worse than this area. Somedays it is like an elephant is going to crush my pelvis in half.

I have an intermitent, dull pain in not my hip joint, but on what feels like the Iliac Crest (round, top of hip--the one that used to stick out when I was "thinner"). Only on my right side. Pain has been around for about 2-3 years, maybe longer. It comes on, may last for a few days to a few weeks, and then nothing. I have a lot of pain in general, especially from kidney stones, so I pretty much ignore it. If other pain is bad, then I'll take some pain reliever, but I can feel this pain through a pain killer, be it ibuprofen, vycoden or percocet. I don't understand why nothing can "reach" the pain. It is not the kind of pain that you would double over with, but it is at times very uncomfortable. All I have found is that it is related to excercise which I do not do. It is also not tender upon palpation. It is also NOT on both sides, just the right, so I do not think it fits in with Iliact Crest syndrome/back pain either. I used to have a similar pain in my right hip joint that I no longer have. This Iliac Crest pain seems to have taken over that one, if that makes sense. I DO have a herniated L4, L5, but this started before I herniated the discs (I remember the exact moment I bent over and the discs ripped). I do have slight scoliosis. Most of the time any "severe" pain I have had is on the right side, be it from kidney stones, etc. I have had my appendix removed. I also have a cyst that has been noted for many years on my Right ovary that has not changed in size. Of interesting note, I also have 2 Ureters on my Right side discovered during a laser lithotripsy surgery for kidney stones 4 years ago. I do have lots of other symptoms, but never considered this as part of the "group of symptoms". It is a rather obscure area for pain, I think. The pain has not changed in frequency, strength or duration since it began. I have not noticed a pattern, either, but that does not mean that there is not a pattern! Any insight would be appreciated. I am experiencing the same thing. And, like you, it is not from exercise. Have you found out anything that could be causing the pain? Pain medication does not help.

In reply to all experiencing pain, did you happen to give birth just prior to the start of the pain? I have been having extreme pain over my left iliac crest since giving birth to my second child and no one seems to be able to tell me what is wrong or going on. I also don't have any relief from Tylenol or ibuprofen. I may try the physical therapy thing.

HelloI know this forum started a few years ago but I am curious about this as I am experiencing the same. I wanted to say that i have had a Mirena IUD. Just wondered if this could be a common IUD issue. Especially the part about how it gets worse then fine again.. I noticed, for me, it gets much worse during hormonal times.

Hi, I too am online doing research about this pain, it is a sort of sharp pain only in my lower right back and literally feels like a bone is pinching a nerve. It comes and goes randomly and can last for up to two weeks. I also have a Mirena IUD. I went to the doctor during a prenatal exam, the pain started during my second pregnancy, I was told it was a tilted pelvis and it would go away after giving birth. It hasn't. I have double scoliosis so that may have exaggerated the initial problem. I just wish I could find some relief!I know this forum started a few years ago but I am curious about this as I am experiencing the same. I wanted to say that i have had a Mirena IUD. Just wondered if this could be a common IUD issue. Especially the part about how it gets worse then fine again.. I noticed, for me, it gets much worse during hormonal times.

I also have this sharp pain in the right top edge of the iliac crest. It comes and goes, but as of late has been present daily. Usually most uncomfortable when I first rise from sitting awhile. It even feels sore to the touch when pressed. I stand most of the day on my job. Could that have anything to do with it? No lower back pain, though I have been told I have a touch of scoliosis and that my right hip joint is not tightly tucked into the socket-something I was born with which I personally think of as slight dysplasia.Could it simply be arthritis?

I literally sat up in my seat when I read this, "did you happen to give birth just prior to the start of the pain? I have been having extreme pain over my left iliac crest since giving birth to my second child." I gave birth in October '09 and started experiencing this same top of the hip pain on my left side in January '10 right at the time I started running to lose my baby weight. At the same exact day, I started having digestive issues. Until I was finally diagnosed with colitis in June, I assumed the digestive issues and the hip pain were related. Now I am finally feeling normal with my digestive issues, I started a very limited exercise yesterday and today I have been feeling the pain all day. No drugs are helping at all. It hurts to the touch as well. Back in January, I thought it might simply be because I nursed my baby in bed lying on my left side every night. And since the pain would wake me up and force me to roll over in the night, that seemed confirmed. When I started having the baby sleep in her crib and not with me, I thought the pain would go away, but it didn't.I stopped running and only walked (for exercise) very rarely. I still have the pain daily but mostly only in the mornings. A friend suggested arthritis, but when I saw these posts, I am wondering. Also, on a recent trip for 12 hours in a car, I could barely walk the pain was so bad. What is this????

I have had the same uncomfortable pain on my left side but its not the hip joint its up higher too. It's not a sharp pain, but sometimes it is so uncomfortable I can't even lay on my left side. If its bad enough, I limp slightly because putting pressure on my left leg bothers it. I went to the doctor who wanted bloodwork and x-rays but everything came back normal. I was then sent to physical therapy which didn't seem to help. They stretched my legs so much and were convinced it was a muscle so all of my exercises were to help a pulled muscle.I never had any children and I exercise moderately but mostly just walking. I've never had any other severe medical issues. I read in one of the posts that your hip hurts after you've been sitting for a long time. It's the same for me and it's so uncomfortable. I can't even pick just one spot where it bothers me, I just know its a small area. On top of all of this, I don't know what triggered the pain. I remember thinking maybe I ran into something and didn't realize it but the pain has come and gone for months. I'll have no pain for awhile and then I can have pain for days or even weeks.If anyone has an idea what this could possibly be, I'd be very interested in hearing your ideas. I don't know what to do about it anymore, its very annoying. If I go back to the doctor, the next step is an MRI.

I am experiencing the same thing. And, like you, it is not from exercise. Have you found out anything that could be causing the pain? Pain medication does not help.Hi....I have had this same pain in my hips (on top of the iliac crests) for several years now. It comes and goes. It is usually aggravated by jogging or bouncing, even if I only jog across the street. In the past, I have seen doctors about it; and they told me that there is no joint there, so they didn't know what it was. Sometimes it hurts so bad that I can't even roll over in bed. Now, about 5 years after first developing this pain, I have been diagnosed with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. I did some research on this disease and discovered that polymyositis attacks the muscles of the hips and shoulders. It tends to affect the muscles closest to the trunk. I am convinced that this disease is what has been making my hips hurt for so long. It just took 5 years to get a diagnosis via the U1RNP test. My rheumatologist believes that it's the start of lupus, however, I believe that lupus and polymyositis are both involved.If I were you, I would have your doctor run some tests, including U1RNP to determine if you have this disease. I hope this is helpful. Good luck.

I also have this sharp pain in the right top edge of the iliac crest. It comes and goes, but as of late has been present daily. Usually most uncomfortable when I first rise from sitting awhile. It even feels sore to the touch when pressed. I stand most of the day on my job. Could that have anything to do with it? No lower back pain, though I have been told I have a touch of scoliosis and that my right hip joint is not tightly tucked into the socket-something I was born with which I personally think of as slight dysplasia.Could it simply be arthritis?Do any of you guys have an iud? Apparently that's associated with this kind of hip pain

I also have this sharp pain in the right top edge of the iliac crest. It comes and goes, but as of late has been present daily. Usually most uncomfortable when I first rise from sitting awhile. It even feels sore to the touch when pressed. I stand most of the day on my job. Could that have anything to do with it? No lower back pain, though I have been told I have a touch of scoliosis and that my right hip joint is not tightly tucked into the socket-something I was born with which I personally think of as slight dysplasia.Could it simply be arthritis?I think you just nailed what I am experiencing - pain when I touch my iliac on right side, especially painful when I rise from sitting. It's chronic for me - a few months now. I sit most of my day at a computer. I went to a family practitioner today, had x-rays done, but he couldn't find anything wrong. He said I may want to consider scheduling an appt with an orthopedic specialist, which I did when I got back to the office. Honestly, I'm not sure what sort of specialist would be appropiate to diagnose the problem. Any insight into your problem?

In reply to all experiencing pain, did you happen to give birth just prior to the start of the pain? I have been having extreme pain over my left iliac crest since giving birth to my second child and no one seems to be able to tell me what is wrong or going on. I also don't have any relief from Tylenol or ibuprofen. I may try the physical therapy thing.ME too. Started jogging after birth of my second child and pain started on my right illiac crest. Just went to an Orthopedic doctor who gave me no help except to not excercise. I have already been not excercising for 2 months. Pain decreased but has plateauted and continued. Jogging makes it worse again, but I need to excercise! Any suggestions.

I've also have this pain, which feels to me like someone jabbed a spear in my hinney. The neurologist said it was the sacro-iliac joint. Extremely hard to pinpoint even with an MRI because it's so small. There are four exercises to strengthen the ligaments there to help it hold once again, or you can opt for a cortisone shot which they give you under an x-ray so they can see where the needle is going since the area they are aiming for is so small. The shot can last anywhere from one day to a year. Hope this helps.

I've also have this pain, which feels to me like someone jabbed a spear in my hinney. The neurologist said it was the sacro-iliac joint. Extremely hard to pinpoint even with an MRI because it's so small. There are four exercises to strengthen the ligaments there to help it hold once again, or you can opt for a cortisone shot which they give you under an x-ray so they can see where the needle is going since the area they are aiming for is so small. The shot can last anywhere from one day to a year. Hope this helps.I have been suffering for over 2 years orthopod sent me for MRI of spine and thought disc problems were the culprit. No radiating pain so disc which is herniated, not causing this pain. Next orthopod wanted to inject the hip without even ruling out organ involvenent, I suggested a ct abdomen and pelvis to be certain nothing else is going on. Results pending. If all clear I'm going to a physical therapist next.

I also have this sharp pain in the right top edge of the iliac crest. It comes and goes, but as of late has been present daily. Usually most uncomfortable when I first rise from sitting awhile. It even feels sore to the touch when pressed. I stand most of the day on my job. Could that have anything to do with it? No lower back pain, though I have been told I have a touch of scoliosis and that my right hip joint is not tightly tucked into the socket-something I was born with which I personally think of as slight dysplasia.Could it simply be arthritis?Have you found an answer to this? I have the same problem. I had similar pain on my right hip a few years ago after a running injury. I went to physical therapy which didn't really help. Then about a year later got pregnant with my second child. Since she has been born (6 months now) my left side hurts. It's right on the top of the illiac crest, very sore to the touch and hurts the most when I first stand after walking.

I'm having the same pain: iliac crest, like a pinched nerve. Noticed it when I went for a walk. If I try to walk faster it starts to burn. Like several other posters, I have scoliosis. Had a surgery several years ago to stop its progression. I noticed the pain several months ago, but it hasn't come back until today. Stood all day at work last week, but don't have to on a regular basis, so I don't think it's that. Hurt my tailbone last year, popped exercise ball, very painful. It might have something to do with it as I'd never felt the pain before this. Recently started working out again and stretch beforehand that may have something to do with the pain. Just did some yoga and that seems to have alleviated the pain somewhat but not entirely, (the area feels much looser and less tense). Also have a somewhat uncomfortable (hard) bed that might be a contributing factor. I used a heating pad the last time it occurred and that helped a lot too (on high setting). All-in-all it's not flat-on-my-back painful, but somewhat annoying. Don't think it's arthritis because there aren't any joints where it hurts.

This sounds like the same pain I have, only in the left side. It seems to get worse with some weightlifting exercises and improves with yoga. I have had it intermittantly for almost 2 years now but I think today is the worst day ever. Hoping to find out something that would help with a diagnosis.